Colfax Chronicles

10 YEARS AGO
Oct. 18, 2001 –
Colfax City Council members heard a less than optimistic report on what to expect in the new Placer County Transportation Planning Agency Regional Transportation Plan 2022 during its Oct. 9 regular council meeting. In short, the plan offers little or no projects for the Colfax area, unless voters approve a sales tax increase to pay for any improvements.
Rollins Lake is at its lowest point of the year as boat docks are landlocked, boat ramps are hundreds of feet from the water, and recreational activities are limited to hiking. Nevada Irrigation District administrators hope this will be a normal rain season.
20 YEARS AGO
Oct. 16, 1991 – Colfax will not see an increase from 8 percent to 10 percent in the transient occupancy tax, the city council decided Oct. 9, after hearing from the one business that would be affected by the tax hike. In a letter to the council, Dolores Steagall, owner of the only hotel in Colfax, the Colfax Motor Lodge, said she feels the tax is unfair because it affects only one business in the city – hers.
Dr. Kurtis Fox was named Sierra Nevada Grange Citizen of the Year during the meeting that included an officers’ installation ceremony. The business meeting was held after the ceremony to drape the charter in memory of Jake Keck.
Sarah Schwartz was crowned the 1991 Colfax High School Homecoming Queen during Friday night’s football game. In the football game, Colfax beat Marysville, 28-19.
Anyone who would like them is invited to take possession of the two “artworks” in front of the Sierra Vista Community Center. The two concrete sculptures were made by Colfax Elementary School students at the time when Sierra Vista Center was a school. They are on both sides of the stairs into the multipurpose rom.
50 YEARS AGO
Oct. 19, 1961 – To meet the 120-day requirement of Placer County Planning Commission, the Lowrie Paving Company, operators of the ball mill plant in Colfax, will commence work on the mill to relieve the nice emanating from the equipment. At the present time tests are being run on a new pulverizing machine. Also, some soundproofing will be made on the dust collector blower that is situated near the top of the plant. The state has been in Colfax making tests on noise and also the dust problem.
During the first 12 years of the Record’s existence, more publishers went through its doors than one would shake a stick at. The late Allen G. Thurman and his wife, Susie Thurman, took over in 1920 and continuing the ownership until we (Clint Haywood) took over in 1956. Our five-year reign as publishers marks the second-longest continual ownership for the Record.
Five generations gathered recently in San Diego with great-great-grandmother Mrs. C.W. Gibbs so she could see the recent addition to the family of the Gerald Thompsons, little Debra Thompson. Those who went to San Diego are Mrs. H.A. Wittich, great-grandmother; Mrs. Hope Thompson, grandmother; and Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Thompson, the baby’s parents.
75 YEARS AGO
Oct. 23, 1936 – Forest fires that raged one week ago on the Iowa Hill and Forest Hill Divides destroyed 23,000 acres of forest land, much of which contained virgin timber. The fire broke out at the McKenzie lumber mill, above Westville on the Forest Hill Divide. Several homes at Monona Flat were also destroyed. The Watts home and a cabin were the only houses that escaped destruction at the flat.
Mr. and Mrs. Lazzaro Paoli announced the opening of their new club and café to be known as the Moonlight Club and Café on Depot and Main streets.
News from Weimar: Last Saturday when the Iowa Hill fire was raging, O.C. Haworth and his son Lester Haworth moved all their household furniture out of their homes as they expected the fire to cross the river and come into Section 27 where they live.
News from Blue Canyon: The Lost Camp Mine opened for winter operation last week with a crew of 22 men. Three carloads of lumber have arrived for flume work. The Lost Camp, one of the oldest placer mines in the state, operated as far back as 1850 and has always been a good producer.